LEXINGTON, Ky. - After a decorated playing career and several successful coaching and instructing stops over the past few years, including serving as the Wildcats' volunteer assistant coach last season, Matt Emery has joined Cedric Kauffmann's staff as assistant coach, Kauffmann announced on Tuesday.

"I am very happy to announce the hiring of Matt Emery to our coaching staff," Kauffmann said. "Matt was born to be a collegiate coach with his ability to relate to players and his endless knowledge of the game of tennis. Matt has incredible experience after serving as a volunteer assistant with us last year and a very successful stint as an assistant coach at Maryland. We are both alumni of this great university and know what it means to wear Kentucky across your chest. With that experience and passion, I think we can lead our student-athletes to great success and I look forward to getting started."

Emery, who played for the Wildcats under his father and longtime head coach Dennis Emery from 2001-05, will help Kauffmann with all aspects of the program, including scheduling, player development and recruiting.

"I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to be the assistant men's tennis coach at the University of Kentucky," Emery said. "I'm very excited to work alongside Coach Kauffmann and continue the tradition of success of Kentucky men's tennis. It's an honor to return to my alma mater and have the privilege of contributing to a program and university which has played such an important role in my life."

Emery began his collegiate coaching career in 2008 when he started a two-year stint as the volunteer assistant coach at Kentucky. Following the 2009 season, Emery earned his first full-time collegiate job when he was hired as the men's tennis assistant coach at the University of Maryland. During the 2009-10 season, Emery helped lead the Terps program to a school-record 13-0 start.

The former UK star would leave Maryland in the fall of 2010 to become the co-director of the junior tennis program at Club Med Academies in Port St. Lucie, Fla. While there, Emery oversaw and directed operations for 100 students in the junior tennis program, including on-court practices, strength training and education, and the scheduling and travel to national and international tournaments. Emery left Club Med Academies in August of last year to move back to his hometown of Lexington and rejoin UK's staff as a volunteer assistant.

Prior to his coaching career, Emery had an impressive playing career both on the junior circuit and collegiately. As a competitor on the junior circuit, Emery enjoyed a prolific career that included a stint on the 1999 U.S. National Team and playing in each of the four major Grand Slam tournaments. He peaked in the International Tennis Federation junior singles rankings at No. 12 in the world and No. 16 in doubles. Emery also spent time ranked No. 1 overall in U.S. Boys 16s rankings and at No. 2 in U.S. Boys 18s. Emery has wins over several top-20 professional players, including Andy Roddick, Janko Tipsarevic and Tomas Berdych.

Collegiately, Emery was a part of a successful time in Kentucky men's tennis history from 2001-05, helping lead the Wildcats to the NCAA Tournament every year, including the quarterfinals in 2002. Emery ended his career with 58 singles wins and 36 doubles wins. During his freshman campaign in 2001, Emery teamed with UK All-American Jesse Witten to win the National Clay Courts Doubles Championship. Overall, Kentucky finished in the top 25 of the final team rankings every season Emery was on the squad, including eighth during his sophomore season in 2002.

Emery graduated from Kentucky in 2006 with a degree in corporate communications. He is married to the former Sara Reichbaum, who is also a Kentucky graduate.

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